General Office Clerks

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Summary

General office clerks
General office clerks perform a variety of administrative tasks, like photocopying.
Quick Facts: General Office Clerks
2010 Median Pay $26,610 per year
$12.79 per hour
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience in a Related Occupation None
On-the-job Training Short-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2010 2,950,700
Job Outlook, 2010-20 17% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20 489,500

What General Office Clerks Do

General office clerks do a broad range of administrative tasks, including answering telephones, typing or word processing, and filing. However, tasks vary widely in different jobs.

Work Environment

General office clerks work in many places. Some of the largest employers are schools, healthcare facilities, and federal, state, and local governments. More than 1 in 4 general office clerks worked part time in 2010.

How to Become a General Office Clerk

General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential. Workers often learn their skills on the job.

Pay

The median hourly wage of general office clerks was $12.79 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of general office clerks is projected to grow by 17 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment will grow as employers increasingly hire administrative support workers who can do a variety of office tasks rather than a single, specialized task.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of general office clerks with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about general office clerks by contacting these additional resources.

What General Office Clerks Do About this section

General office clerks
General office clerks answer phones and schedule meetings.

General office clerks do a broad range of administrative tasks, including answering telephones, typing or word processing, and filing. However, tasks vary widely in different jobs.

Duties

General office clerks typically do the following:

  • Use office equipment, such as fax machines and photocopiers
  • Answer telephones
  • Update and maintain office filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems
  • Respond to questions and provide information
  • Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents
  • Handle incoming and outgoing mail
  • Manage schedules and calendars and arrange appointments
  • Run errands
  • Order materials, supplies, and services
  • Keep records of business transactions and other office activities

Rather than doing a single specialized task, general office clerks have responsibilities that often change daily with the needs of the specific job and the employer. Some clerks spend their time filing or answering the phone. Others enter data into computers. They also operate photocopiers, fax machines, and other office equipment; prepare mailings; proofread documents; and deliver messages. Some may sort checks, keep payroll records, and take inventory.

The specific duties assigned to clerks can vary significantly, depending on the type of office in which they work. For example, a general office clerk at a college or university might process application materials or answer questions from prospective students. A clerk at a hospital might file and retrieve medical records.

Clerks' duties also vary by level of experience. Inexperienced employees may make photocopies, stuff envelopes, and take phone messages. Experienced clerks usually get additional responsibilities. For example, they may maintain financial records, set up spreadsheets, make sure statistical reports are accurate, handle customer complaints, arrange purchases with vendors, make travel arrangements, take inventory of equipment and supplies, answer questions on departmental services and functions, and help prepare invoices or budgets.

Senior office clerks also may be expected to monitor and direct the work of lower-level clerks.

Work Environment About this section

General office clerks
General office clerks work in office buildings.

General office clerks held about 3 million jobs in 2010.

General office clerks work in many places. Some of the largest employers are schools, healthcare facilities, and federal, state, and local governments.

The table below shows the industries employing the most general office clerks in 2010.

Educational services; state, local, and private13%
Health care and social assistance13
Government10
Administrative and support services8

General office clerks usually work in comfortable office settings.

Work Schedules

Most general office clerks work full time, although 1 in 4 clerks worked part time in 2010. Many clerks also work in temporary positions.

How to Become a General Office Clerk About this section

General office clerks
General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or equivalent.

General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) credential. Workers often learn their skills on the job.

Education

Most general office clerks have a high school diploma or GED.

Business education programs offered in high schools, community and junior colleges, and postsecondary vocational schools can help people prepare for an entry-level job as a general office clerk. Courses in office practices, word processing, and other computer applications are particularly helpful.

Training

General office clerks often learn their skills on the job. On-the-job training typically lasts up to 1 month and may include guidance on how to use office systems or equipment.

Advancement

After gaining some work experience or specialized skills, many workers transfer to jobs with higher pay or greater advancement potential. Some may move into other administrative jobs, such as receptionists and secretaries and administrative assistants. For more information, see the profiles on receptionists and secretaries and administrative assistants.

General office clerks who exhibit strong communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills may be promoted to supervisory positions. However, advancement to professional occupations within an organization often requires additional formal education, such as a college degree.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. General office clerks must understand and communicate information effectively when interacting with others in person, by phone, or in writing.

Computer skills. Word processing and other basic computer skills help office clerks do many of their tasks. Because organizations frequently keep files and records on computers, some office clerks also use and maintain computer databases.

Customer-service skills. Office clerks respond to questions and provide information to a wide variety of people, ranging from coworkers to the public.

Detail oriented. Many administrative tasks, such a proofreading documents and arranging schedules, require excellent attention to detail.

Interpersonal skills. Good people skills are important because office clerks often work closely with others in their office, as well as with people from outside the office. 

Organizational skills. Being organized helps office clerks find files and other important information quickly and efficiently. General office clerks should be able to decide which tasks are most important and manage their time efficiently.

Pay About this section

General Office Clerks

Median hourly wages, May 2010

Total, All Occupations

$16.27

Other Office and Administrative Support Workers

$13.35

General Office Clerks

$12.79

 

The median hourly wage of general office clerks was $12.79 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.31, and the top 10 percent earned more than $20.12.

The median hourly wages of general office clerks in the industries employing the most of this occupation were as follows:

Government$14.82
Health care and social assistance12.80
Educational services; state, local, and private12.75
Administrative and support services12.06

Most general office clerks work full time, although 1 in 4 clerks worked part time in 2010. Many clerks also work in temporary positions.

Job Outlook About this section

General Office Clerks

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

General Office Clerks

17%

Total, All Occupations

14%

Other Office and Administrative Support Workers

12%

 

Employment of general office clerks is projected to grow by 17 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Employment will grow as organizations increasingly hire administrative support workers who can do a variety of tasks rather than a single, specialized task.

However, growth will be moderated as technology makes these workers more productive and reduces the need for general office clerks. For example, some organizations are going paperless or using automated phone systems, which can decrease demand for general office clerks who file papers or answer phones.

In addition, other support workers may increasingly do tasks that general office clerks used to do, further reducing growth in this occupation. 

Employment growth of general office clerks will vary by industry. Healthcare, for example, is expected to add many new jobs, and as it does, jobs for general office clerks will increase. The federal government, on the other hand, is projected to have employment declines.

The job outlook for general office clerks also may depend on the state of the economy. Employers who are reducing their staff often cut general office clerk jobs. But, as organizations cut back on administrative staff, they may increase employment of general office clerks because these workers can cover several administrative support functions.

Job Prospects

Job prospects are expected to be good in this large occupation. Workers will be needed to fill new jobs and replace those who leave the occupation. General office clerks who can learn new skills and adapt to changing technologies will have the best prospects.

Employment projections data for general office clerks, 2010-20
Occupational Title SOC Code Employment, 2010 Projected Employment, 2020 Change, 2010-20 Employment by Industry
Percent Numeric

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program

Office Clerks, General

43-9061 2,950,700 3,440,200 17 489,500 [XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of general office clerks.

Occupation Job Duties ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help 2010 MEDIAN PAY Help
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.

High school diploma or equivalent $34,030
Customer service representatives

Customer Service Representatives

Customer service representatives interact with customers on behalf of an organization. They provide information about products and services and respond to customer complaints. Some also take orders and process returns.

High school diploma or equivalent $30,460
Information clerks

Information Clerks

Information clerks provide administrative and clerical support in a variety of settings. They help maintain records, collect data and information, and respond to customers’ questions or concerns.

See How to Become One $29,990
Material recording clerks

Material Recording Clerks

Material recording clerks keep track of information to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.

See How to Become One $24,100
Receptionists

Receptionists

Receptionists perform various administrative tasks, including answering telephones and giving information to the public and customers. 

High school diploma or equivalent $25,240
Secretaries and administrative assistants

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and organizational tasks. They organize files, draft messages, schedule appointments, and support other staff.

High school diploma or equivalent $34,660
Tellers

Tellers

Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank. These transactions include cashing checks, depositing money, and collecting loan payments.

High school diploma or equivalent $24,100
Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, General Office Clerks,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/general-office-clerks.htm (visited October 02, 2012).

Publish Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012